Improvement in machines for tapering cartridge-shells



' STEPHEN w. WOOD.

vement in Machines for Tapering Cartridge-Shells. No. 126,609. P 2.

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STEPHEN W. WOOD, OF OORNVVALL, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR TAPERING CARTRIDGE-SHELLS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 126,609, dated May 7,1872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, STEPHEN W. W001), of Cornwall, county of Orange, andState of New York, have invented an Improved Machine for TaperingMetallic Cartridge-Shells; and I do hereby declare that the following isa full and exact description thereof, reference being had to theaccompanying drawing making part of this specification- Figure 1representing a central, vertical, or longitudinal section of theessential parts of the machine; Fig. 2, a corresponding section,indicating a modified operation of the parts; Fig. 3, a view of thelower end of the sectional expanding and contracting tool employed inthe machine.

Like letters designate corresponding parts in all of the figures.

The parts represented are, a seat or support, A a hollow die, B; asectional expanding and contracting tool, 0; and a tapered rod, D. Thesefulfill the respective functions herein described; and the movementsthereof for performing their functions are effected by any suitable andknown means, which any one skilled in the art can readily apply.

The cartridge-shell X to be tapered is first placed on the seat orsupport A, and the die B isthen brought down over it, (or the shell ismoved up into the die,) the flange of the shell bearing against orprojecting under an inner shoulder, 9, thereof, and the upper end of theshell also being preferably shielded by another shoulder, h, of the die,as shown.

By the operation of the parts as indicated in Fig. 1 the rod D, which isof taper form, largest at the lower or inner end, and is situatedconcentrically in the die B, is first brought down to the base of theshell, as shown. The sectional expanding and contracting tool 0, whichconcentrically surrounds the tapered rod, first being at the top of itsmovement, is then caused to descend inside of and in contact with theshell, and is gradually expanded equally on all sides, as it descends,by the tapered rod D, over which it moves and fits, whereby the shell isgradually enlarged in diameter, more and more toward the base, to theexact taper required. The cavity in the dieB is of the required taper,and is of sufficient size to admit of the requisite enlargement ortapering of the shell. The tool 0 and tapered rod D are then withdrawnfrom the shellfirst the tool, and then the cam-rod. Then the taperedshell is removed from the machine, and the succeeding shell brought intoposition to be tapered in the same way.

According to the arrangement indicated in Fig. 2, the expanding andcontracting tool 0 first descends inside of the shell X to the basethereof, or to the point where the taper is to commence. Then thetapered rod D descends inside of the tool, expanding it during thedescent until it reaches the base of the shell or termination of itsdownward movement, as shown in the drawing. At this time the working-lipor projection b on the lower end of the tool, at its outer edge, hasexpanded the body of the shell, where it is in contact therewith, to thefull diameter required for the taper, as represented. Then the tool isdrawn out of the shell, contracting gradually in diameter as it iswithdrawn, and ascends along the tapered rod D, with which it moves incontact, and consequently less and less enenlarging the shell toward itsopen end, and producing thus the taper required. Then the tapered rod iswithdrawn and the tapered shell removed, when the machine is ready totaper the succeeding shell in the same manner.

The difference between the two operations above described is that, inone, the expand. ing-tool enlarges and tapers the shell from the openend toward the base; and in the other from the base, or where the tapercommences, toward the open end.

The parts described may be arranged in a horizontal or oblique position,or in an inverted vertical position. If inverted in position, the seat Amay be dispensed with in the arrangement indicated in Fig. 2; or, in anycase, a single part for holding the shells may take the place of theparts A B.

The tool 0 is divided into sections to allow its expansibility andcontractibility. In Fig. 3 it is represented as divided radially andlongitudinally into eight sections. These sections have, or may have,sufiicient flexibility and elasticity to permit the necessary expansionand contraction of the tool.

\Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is

The combination of the expanding and contracting tool 0, the seat orsupport A, and die B, and the tapered rod D, substantially as and forthe purpose herein described.

STEPHEN W. WOOD.

Witnesses:

J. C. LYoNs, J. S. BROWN.

